Tin melts beginning at 450 degrees, helps lead to mix better, melt at a lower temperature, look prettier and fill out the bullet grooves better. Tin added in excess of 10% will cause leading.

Lead melts beginning at 621 degrees if pure and varies depending on other metals present. It is available in many forms and alloys.

Antimony melts at 1166 degrees which bullet casting pots do not reach so it must be shattered with a hammer the small particles to mix with the lead like peanuts in cookie dough.

Aluminum Melts at 1215 degrees and we are all familiar with it but not in bullets.

Silver melts at 1761 degrees and I have heard of bullets being made with it. Silver solder is used to attach gun sights. If you wish silver looking bullets it is a lot less trouble to have some jacketed bullets chrome or silver plated. There used to be marketed some small home plating kits for gun engravers.

Gold melts at 1945 degrees.

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Before WW2 there were silver appearing bullets that were cupro - nickel composition. Sometimes called German Silver?

Regards Paul Jones

mete

February 2, 2003, 01:44 PM

German silver ( or nickel silver ) is a copper alloy with zinc and nickel. Pure silver is about as soft as copper. I knew a trooper who carried silver bullets but don't know why. Find someone who makes jewelry by investment casting, he'll be able to cast bullets for you. I suppose you could cast your own using molds ment for lead but you might damage the mold. For the same size bullet silver would be significantly lighter.

Alex

February 2, 2003, 08:35 PM

You would not be able to cast them with normal equipment, silver would require a foundery set up. You best bet would be to find somebody that sells silver barstock and than have the bullets you desire turned on a metal lathe from this stock. I've never actually turned silver, but it shouldn't be a whole lot different than turning brass and that's easy.

Mal H

February 2, 2003, 08:45 PM

... or you could buy a box or two of Laser-Cast 'Silver Bullets' from Oregon Trails (http://www.laser-cast.com/). They have silver in them, probably only a trace amount, but it might satisfy your urge. ;) (And they are high quality bullets.)

Alan Smithiee

February 3, 2003, 11:36 PM

the bar stock idea might do the trick for something I have been threatening for years, a . 50 BMG with a real silver bullet in a small windowed case with "in case of Wearwolf break glass"